SR: Brumbies 16, Cell C Sharks 9

The team that was coached by White for two years host the team currently being coached by the World Cup-winning former Springbok mentor.

And therein lies a story.

They are both successful playing a game White is famous for – a territory-based style in which tactical kicking and a strangling defence is at a premium.

Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham admitted there were similarities between the Brumbies’ game and that of the Sharks.

However, Larkham said he had introduced a few ‘tactics’ this week in an attempt to out-wit White.

“He certainly knows how we play, but by the same token we know how they play as well,” Larkham told The Canberra Times. “It’s a very similar game. There’s a few things, a few tactics that we’re going to introduce this week that will hopefully catch them.”

No doubt it will be a brutal arm-wrestle with more than just bragging rights on offer. Sharks replacement back Heimar Williams said the game will be a good indication for where they stand in terms of championship potential.

“It will be good for us to measure ourselves against one of the competition’s top teams,” Williams told rugby365 from the team’s base in Australia. The Sharks make no secret of the fact that they see it as a “crucial” game.

I love how our mediocrity and inability to inspire always have defenders at the ready! These are top athletes in the game but its somehow become ok for them to muck about for 80 minutes and lose after literally not even trying to play.